OBJECTIVE OF UNO STACKO: Be the last player to place a block on the top of the stack
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2 – 10 players
CONTENTS: 45 blocks, Stacking tray
TYPE OF GAME: Dexterity Game
AUDIENCE: Ages 7+
INTRODUCTION OF STACKO
UNO Stacko, originally published in 1994 by Mattel, is a block stacking dexterity game that combines the classic gameplay of Jenga with features from UNO. In versions found on store shelves in the 90’s, a die was included that players rolled to determine which block had to be removed. In modern publications of the game, the die has been removed, and players choose the block based on which type was removed on the turn before theirs.
MATERIALS
The game comes with an assortment of 45 blocks. There are five different colors including: red, blue, green, yellow, and purple which are Wild. The red, blue, green, and yellow blocks contain numbers 1 – 4, Skip, Draw Two, and Reverse. The distribution of the blocks is different for each color.
SETUP
One player builds the stack using the stacking tray and all 45 blocks. Each layer contains three blocks, and layers should alternate directions. Be sure to shuffle the blocks before stacking them.
THE PLAY
The player seated left of the person who built the stack goes first. Using one hand, the player removes a block from the stack. The block that is removed is placed on top of the stack. If starting a new layer, place the block perpendicularly to the completed layer on top.
If the block that is removed is a number, the next player removes a block of the same number or color. They may also choose to remove a Wild block.
If a Reverse block is removed, play passes in the opposite direction. For example, if play is passing left, and a Reverse block is removed, play immediately passes right instead.
Pulling a Skip block skips the next player, and they cannot take a turn.
The next player to take their turn after a Reverse or Skip is played must remove a block that is the same color as that block, or they may choose to remove a Wild.
When a Draw Two is removed, the next player is required to remove two blocks of the same color as the Draw Two. The player that goes after them must remove a block that is the same color as the second block removed by the previous player.
Finally, when a Wild block is removed, that player chooses the color that the next player must remove. Of course, that following player also has the option to remove a Wild block if they want.
MORE RULES
Players can only use one hand at a time when removing and stacking blocks. Either hand can be used, and players are allowed to switch during their turn.
Players can touch blocks in order to find a loose one, but any blocks that are moved must be put back. If a player thinks the stack needs to be straightened, they may do so with one hand.
A player’s turn ends one they have placed the removed block on top of the stack.
If a player uses more than one hand at a time, an opponent may shout UNO. When this occurs, the player using two hands must remove two blocks as a penalty. The player who caught them and shouted UNO gets to pick the color. Both blocks must be the same color.
2 PLAYER RULES
During a 2 player game, Skip and Reverse blocks simply act as a Draw Two. The player must remove two blocks that match the color of the Skip or Reverse.
ENDING THE GAME
The game ends when someone knocks the stack over.
WINNING
The last player to successfully remove and stack a block is the winner.
- TRIPLE SNAKES - February 15, 2021